Kobon

A language of Papua New Guinea

ISO 639-3

Population

10,000 (2007 SIL), increasing. 4,000 monolinguals.

Location

Madang Province, Middle Ramu district; Western Highlands Province, Kaironk river, lower Jimi river area north of Mount Hagen.

Language Maps

Language Status

4 (Educational).

Classification

Typology

SOV

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Tok Pisin [tpi], especially youth.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 20%–25%. Literacy rate in L2: 20%–25%. Interest in L1 literacy increasing. Taught in primary schools. Grammar. NT: 2005–2008.

Language Resources

Writing

Latin script.